Review Detail

“Stories Are the Heart of the World” by Laurel Goodluck, with illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt, contains many wonderfully thought-provoking lines, one of which is: “When you are in the world … wishful stories root you to your homeland.” This is exactly what the book aims to do—to instill stories, tradition, and engagement with one’s past, present, and future, so that children grow up to be generous, healthy, grateful, responsible, balanced, and loved, among other traits and emotions.

The author’s note in the back of the book makes this even clearer, sharing that the book itself is a love letter to her sons, and how storytelling is an important part of their growth. Much of the beauty of the book can be found in the way that the author’s intertribal family and upbringing influences the way in which her story is told. Different tribes bring different aspects to the story and to her life, contributing to her identity and her desire to pass on the knowledge she holds dear.

The back matter of the book also contains beautifully fashioned questions about the cultural and/or community rituals of readers. Knowing who one is, where one comes from, and how to find the answers that one seeks about these topics is an important part of knowing how to tell one’s own story, so that story can continue to be passed on from generation to generation.